Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 1, 2021
First Reading: Hebrews 11.32-40
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;38Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Psalm 31
1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.6I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.7I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;8And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.11I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.14But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.15My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.19Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.21Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 5.1-20
1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound power of faith and the transformative grace of God. The first reading from Hebrews 11 presents a gallery of faithful figures who endured immense trials and hardships, trusting in God's promises despite not seeing their fulfillment in their lifetimes. This passage emphasizes the enduring nature of faith, highlighting that the saints of old are part of a larger community of believers, all journeying toward the same eternal promise. Their stories inspire us to remain steadfast in our own faith, even when faced with challenges.
The Gospel from Mark 5 narrates the dramatic healing of a man tormented by many demons, known as Legion. This story showcases Jesus's authority and compassion as He restores the man to wholeness. The man's transformation from a state of turmoil to one of peace and sanity exemplifies the redemptive power of encountering Christ. The healed man's eagerness to share his experience with others underscores the call to evangelization, demonstrating that our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves but shared with the world.
Both readings beautifully intertwine, illustrating the connection between faith and action. The examples from Hebrews encourage us to trust in God's plan, even when the outcomes are unclear. The Gospel story shows how this faith can lead to personal transformation and a desire to witness to God's grace. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this faith, trusting in God's providence and allowing His grace to transform us. Just as the healed man shared his story, we too are called to share the ways God has touched our lives, spreading hope and inspiration to those around us. Let us, therefore, approach our challenges with faith, trusting in God's plan and allowing His grace to flow through us.